Safety appliance for gas burners



1930. F. J. CANCIANICH 1,786,395

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR GAS BURNERS Filed Dec. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 iNVENTOR Ifrzczkunck,

BY I

A'TToRNEY Dec. 23, 1930. F. .1. CANCIANICH 1,

' SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR GAS BURNERS Filed Dec. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES P TENT- OFFICE FRANCIS I. CANCIANICH, 01E NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR GAS BURNERS Application filed December 9, v1929. Serial No. 412,885.

3 has been put outby accidental means, as by i being blown out. Many lives have been lost and much property damage has occurred due to the careless use of gas burners and the accidental extinguishing of the flame by drafts of air or temporary failure of gas flow, etc.

My invention, therefore, has for its object to provide means whereby accidents due to gas escape may positively be avoided.

Further, the invention has for an object to the burner in the event that the gas pressure in the mains fails for any reason, as a break in the mains for example.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a gas burner with safety devices whose action depends upon the presence and absence of heat generated by ignited .gas is suing from an orifice of the burner, which devices will, under any and all conditions met with in practice, serve to cut oifthe gas from the outlet of the burner at all times save when the gas at theburner opening is burning. Y i i i Further, it is an object ofthe invention to provide a gas burner with an automatic shutoff valve of such construction that it will not stick, its ports will not clog, and it will maintain a gas-tightcontact with its seat at all times, automatically taking up wear which may occur between engaging surfaces and without the necessity of using pressure springs. 7 r I V Y 7 Further, it is an object'of the invention to provide a device of the above character which in has means for protecting itself against failure in the event of the breakage or burning ofl of the tip of the thermostat-control element. I

Again, it is an obj ectto provide a device of the character above indicated wherein *provision is made to prevent clogging thefgas duct to the valve seat port, the valve port, and the duct from thevalve seat port to the burner outlet,by the provision of a fine mesh screen locatedat the entrance to the burner provide means for shutting off the gas at which will filter outor Lprevent passage of dust particlesor particles of other foreign matter before the gas passes into the gas duct.

A further object is to provide a burner of the character stated in which the contacting faces of the valve and the valve seat lie in vertical planes and in which gravity acts to hold these'faces in gastight contact at all times, while permitting free and easy sliding of the valve to bring its ports into and out of register with those of the valve seat that are associated with the gas inlet and outlet ducts.

Further, it is an object to provide a device of the character specified above, which. is simple in its construction, is composed of but fewv parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, and thoroughly practical in its make-up and operation. j

Further, it is an object to provide a burner embodyingthe aforesaid advantageous features which maybe said to be fool-proof in that it may be operated by anyone without therisk of putting the burner out of operation, and in thatif the tip of the thermov statelement, which is exposed tothe heatof' the flame, burnsoff after a time, it will not preventthe automatic operation of the device for the purpose of closing the valve and shutting off the gas flow promptly.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends, my invention consists in the 'novel features of constructionandinthe combination, connection and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, and then pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention in' use. V

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the invention, the case of the burner being shown in vertical section and the parts being in the position they assume when the valve is closed.

' Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the parts in the position they assume when the valve is open.

Figure 4; is a view simi ar to -Figure 3 after 6 the thermostat elements tip has been broken or burnt oft, the safety blade and stirrup be ing released and the spring finger functioning to hold the valve closed.

Figures 5 and 6 are side elevations of the invention taken at opposite sides of Fig. 2 with the parts in the position shown in Figure Figure is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 77 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of" the valve.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of the 'alve moving lever.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the stirrup member and safety blade.

li igurc 11 is a detail perspective view of the deformable thermostat element.

Inthe drawings, in which like numerals of: reference indicate like parts in all of the figures, and which drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be noted that the burner is composed of a pillar having a lower flange 1 and an upper flange 4-, between which is located the valve mechanism.

Beneath the lower flange 1 is an internally threaded socket 2 by means of which the burner can be screwed onto the fixture pipe indicated in Figure 1. llithin the socket 2 is located a fine mesh wire screen 3, the purpose of which is to filter out, or hold back, dust and other toreign matter particles in the gas stream so that pure gas only is delivered to the duct 9 which conveys the gas from the screen to the lower port 8 of the valve seat.

5 designates a cylindrical portion of the pillar, located inst beneath the flange 4t, and between the cylindrical portion 5 ot the pillar and the lower flange 1. the pillar is flattened to provide a flat wall 6 having transverse slots 7 through which the arms of the valve 18 project.

10 designates the upper port of the valve seat. which communicates through the upper duct 11 with the tip holder socket 12 in which the tip 13 (constructed of the usual material such as lava or other high temperature resisting substances) is located. The tip 13 has its slot 14 so positioned that the flame of the burner will lie in a plane trans versely of that containing the flat wall (3.

The upper flange -i has a slot and a recess ti which leaves a. projection 17, the purpose of whicn will presently be explained. V

The alve. which constitutes an essential part of my invention. is composed of a body 19 and arms 20 having inclined fingers 21, the arms projecting through the slots 7 and the lingers 21 lying on the slot edge of the wall 6 opposite the valve seat -ace of the As will be seen by reference to Figure within thearms 20 do not lie on the wall o the slot but the weight or" the valve is sustained by the fingers 21 in engagement with the edge of the wall at the slot and by the cont; ct of the working lace of the valve with the valve seat face or the wall 6. 'lfhus the veight of the valve 18 is utilized through the inclined lingers 21 and edges of the wall at the slots 7 to maintain a gas-tight contact between the opposing faces of the valve 18 and the wall (3 while leaving the *alve tree to he slid transversely in the direction ot the slot 7 to bring the port 19 ot the valve 18 into register with the ports 8 and ll) or out oi register with the same as the (use may be.

The wall (3 of the pillar of the burner is provided with a bearing hole 252 for the re ception of the stub shatt 23 ol the rocking lever. This rocking lever is composed o? a finger t engage one side wall of the valve 18 and an arm 2: to which a pull chain is connected The rocking lever also includes plate 26 between which and the wall (3 the valve 18 lies. The plate has an edge 27 to cooperate with the flange 1 as a stop when 'he valve is in the closed position. The tinger serves to push the alve 18 to the closed position when the rocking lever is rocked from the position shown in Figure 3 to ti o position shown in Figure 2.

A pin 28 is carried by the plate 26 to lit into the stirrup 29 of the thermostat device. The stirrup 29 is provided with an arm 30 having a finger 31 to engage the side of the valve 18 opposite to that engaged by the linger 25 so that by rocking the rocking lever. through the medium of the pull chain, the valve may be moved from the closed to the open position and by rocking the valve by means of the thermostat device it may he moved from the open to the closed position. The stirrup 2 is carried by a blade 3:2 which is apertured at 33 to receive a rivet that connect-s the blade to the distortable element of the thermostat, the latter having a rivet hole 38 toreceive the rivet 39 that holds the parts together.

A blade 35. which 1 term a safety blad is rlso provided and is connected to the blade 2 by aconnection 34-. It desired the blades 2 and 35, the connection iii: and the stirrup '9 may be stamped from a single piece of sheet metal.

The safety blade 35 is provided with :1. book 36. the purpose of which is to retain the free end l t of a coil spring l3 whose other end 42 is mounted in a block 41 that is secur d to the holding clip 40, which clip retains the element 37 in position on the projection ll" hcreinbetore referred to so as to locate the upper or tip end of the thermostat element within the heat range or Zone of the burner flame.

It should be, of course. understood that the element 3'? is fiat and composed ot' two (o-extensive leaves i .teerally secured together, and of metals having different coelii- NJ co co IOU cients of expansion, such as German silver is a shell or casing 46 which has a slot 47' through which the chain carrying arm 24 projects and another slot 48 through which the thermostat device projects. This casing 46 liireferably peri ianently sealed to the flange 1 so that unauthorized access to the interior parts is prevented, though if desired the casing 46 may simplybe held in place by retaining friction or by the use of a fastening screw.

In practice the normal position of the parts is disclosed in Figure 2. Nowwhen it is desired to use the burner one pulls the chain 45 which causes the valve 18 to be moved from the position shown in Figure 2"to the position shown in Figure 3. Gasv then passes through the ducts 9 and 11 via ports 8, 19 and 10 to the tip 13 where it issues through the slit 14 and may be ignited in the usual way. It should, of course, be understood that the chain should be held down to keep the valve in the open position for a few seconds until the thermostat element has been warmed sufficiently tocause it to buckle and thus hold the valve in the open position. Now, should,

for any reason, the gas supply fail which would put out the light, or shouldv the light be blown out accidentally'while gas is flowing, the thermostat element will cool and consequently return to its normal position, thereby moving the valve from the position shown in Figure 3 back to the position shown in Figure 2 and shutting off the flow of gas.

In the event that the tip of the thermostat device burns off or the thermostat device becomes broken, the stirrup 29 and the safety blade 35 will fall by gravity assisted bythe action of the spring 43 and the end 44 of the spring 43 will engage the pin 28 and move the valve 18 from the open position shown in Figure 3 to the closed position shown in Figure 4, thus shutting off the flow of gas to the burner tip.

From the foregoing it will bcseen that with the construction embodied in my invention the cost of manufacture is kept downto the n'iininnun. The valve 18 and its arnisand lingers 20. 21 may be cast as may also the burner pillar and the rocking lever. The stirrup and other parts of the 1th 'rinostat device can be stamped from sheet metal. The work of assembling the parts is very'simple i and they be assembled rapidly and with out the use of particularly sl illed labor.

Not only is the device so constructed to v 1 function under all conditions met with in practicebut it has been an object to provide connection with the accompanying drawing,

become broken or disconnected.

said valve in a position to close said;

body having an entrance aperture and it is thought the construction, operation and advantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

l/VhatI claim is:

1. In gas burners, a pillar having a tip t holder and a member for 'mounting the burner on a gas supply fixture, said pillar having a vertically disposed flat face with gas ports and 'ducts'leading from said ports to the supply fixture and to the tip holder 7 respectively, a slide valve having a flat face to engage said vertically disposed flat face and having a port to control gas passage between said gas ports; gravity actuated means to hold said valve in gas-tight contact with said flatface; a thermostat device associated with the valve for holding said valve in the open position when the gas issuing from the burner is ignited and to move said valve to and hold it in the closed position when the flame is extinguished, and manually operated means to move the valve to the open po sition initially.

2. In burners, a pillar having a tip holder and a member for mounting the burner on a gassupply fixture, said pillar having a vertically disposed flat face with gas ports and ducts leading from said ports to the supply fixture and to the tip holder respectively; a slide Valve having a flat face 9 to engage said vertically disposed flat face and having a port to control gas passage between said gas ports; gravity actuated means to hold said valve in gas-tight contact with said fiat face; a thermostat device associated with the valve for holding said valve in the open position when the gas issuing from the burner is ignited and to move said valve to and hold it in the closed position when the flame is extinguished, and manually operated means to move the valve to the open position initially, and another means operating tocause said valve to be moved to the closed position should said thermostat device said passage when the gas issuing from the burner is extinguished; of a safety (lQVll'Q o hold P assage in the event of breakage or burning said thermostat device in a manner to oer itinoperative.

4. In a gas burner wherein is provided a distinct from the thermostat devic 12a an exit aperture and having valve controlled ducts between said entrance and exit apertures, said body includinga valve seat face with ports that terminate at the adjacent ends of said ducts; a valve body having Gal a connecting port and being freely slidalole over said valve seat fa'e; means to hold said valve continuously in gasticht contact with said valve seat face: an element having 1 part to engage one side of said valve for pushing it one way; a thermostat device having; a part to engage the other side of said valve for pushing it the other way, and a conncction between said element and said ther- Lnostat device to cause same to move in unison. and means by which said element may be caused to move said valve to an open position and hold it there while said thern'iostat device is warming up.

5. in a gas burner wherein is provided a bodv havingan entrance aperture and an exit ape ire and having; valve controlled ducts between said entrance and exit aperti s, said body including a valve seat fa -e ports that terminate at the adjacent ends ol said ducts; a valve body having a connecting port and being" freely slidable over said valve seat face: gravity actuated means to hold said valve continuously in gas-tight coniact with said valve seat face: an element having a part to engage one side of said Y for pushingit one way; a thermostat dev 7 having a part to engage the other side of; said valve for pushing' it the other v; and a connection between said element and said thermostat device to cause same to move in unison.

6. In a gas burner wherein is provided a body having an entrance aperture and an exit aperture and having valve co ducts between said entrance and exit apertures, said body including" a valve seat face with ports that terminate at the adjacent ends of said ducts: a valve body having a connectinnport and being freely slidable over said valve seat face means to hold said valve continuously in gas-tight contact with said valve seat face: an element ha vino a part to one; one side of said valve for pushing it one n a thermostat device having a part to engage the other side of said valve for pus. an it the other way. and a releasable connection between said element and said thermostat device to cause same to move in unison.

T. In a gas burner wherein is provided a body havingan entrance a pertnre and an exit aperture and having valve controlled ducls between said entrance and exit a iierturcs. said body including a valve 7: El; face with ports that terminate at the ad acent ends at :aid ducts: a valve body having a cminectinaport and being; freely slidable over said valve seat face; means to hold said valve continuousiy in ga -tight contact with said valve seat face; an element having a part to engage one side of said valve for pushing it one --ray: z thermostat device having a part to engae e the other side of said valve for pnslii the other way. and a connection between element and said thermostat device to cause same to move in unison, and a safel y device associated with said thermostat device and with said element for causing the movement of said valve to a closed position in the event said thermostat device is rendered inoperati ve.

8. A burner having a body with a gas inlet and a gas out-let and a ported passage between the same; a vertically positioned slide valvc located on said body with a port to open and close the ports of said ported passage, said body and valve having opposing contacting surfaces located in vertical planes wherein said ports are located; means whereby said surfaces are held in gas-tight contact while said *alve is permitted to slide transversely for opening and closing said ports; and a thermostat device to hold said valve in the open position when said device is hot and to move said valve to and hold it in the closed position when said device is cold, and means for ell'ecting movement of said valve to its open position initially.

9. A burner having a body with a gas inlet and a gas outlet and a ported passage between the same; a vertically positioned slide valve located on said body with a port to open and close the ports of said ported passage, said body and valve having opposing contacting surfaces located in vertical planes wherein said ports are located; n'ieans where by said surfaces are held in gas-tight contact while said valve is permitted to slide transversely for opening and closing said ports; and a thermostat device to hold said valve in the open position when said device is hot and to move said valve to and hold it in the closed position when said device is cold. means for effecting movement of said valve to its open position initially, and means independent of the heat of the flame for moving said valve to a closed position should said thermostat become broken or burnt off so as to render it inoperative.

10. In s burners having a body with a vertical wall which has a flat valve seat face. and intake and outlet ports therein a ported slide valve having a flat face to engage said seat; means to hang said valve on said body with provisions enabling gravity to hold said flat faces in gas-tight contact: and means to move said valve parallel to said flat faces to open and close said ports.

ll. In gas burners having a body with a vertical wall which has a flat valve seat face. and intake and outlet ports therein a ported slide valve ha 'ing" a flat face to engage said seat; means to ha on said valve on said body with provisi ns enabling gravity to hold said flat faces in gas-tight contact; and means to move said valve parallel to said flat faces to open and close said ports said means including a rocking lever and a thermostat device associated therewith for rocking the same.

12. In gas burners having a body with a vertical wall which has a flat valve seat face, and intake and-outlet ports therein; a ported slide valve having a flat face to engage said seat; means to hang said valve on said body with provisions enabling gravity to hold said flat faces in gas-tight contact; means to move said valve parallel to said flat faces to open and close said ports said means including a 10 rocking lever and a thermostat device associated therewith for rocking the same, and a safety device associated with said lever and thermostat device to cause said lever to move said valve to the closed position at times substantially as specified.-

FRANCIS 'J. CANCIANIGH. 

